Rhode Island General Laws Title 8. Courts and Civil Procedure--Courts § 8-2-15.1. Gun court calendar

(1) There has been significant growth in the use of firearms in the commission of violent crimes.

(2) Many of the shootings are drug or gang related and endanger law abiding citizens.

(3) Many of the gun offenses are committed while individuals are free on bail for other offenses.

(4) The growing number of gun related offenses constitutes a burden upon the state of Rhode Island and threatens the domestic tranquility of the state and its people, especially residents of the urban areas where these crimes are most prevalent.

(5) In order to deter the use of firearms in the commission of violent crime, and to protect the law abiding public, there must be swift disposition of gun related offenses in our courts, and there must be the certain prospect of prison terms for those who are convicted of such crimes.

(d) Gun court calendar. (1) The presiding justice of the superior court shall create a gun court calendar in the superior court for the counties of Providence and Bristol and shall assign personnel to the extent warranted to exclusively hear and decide all criminal actions involving offenses committed in Providence and Bristol counties and brought pursuant to violations of the provisions of §§ 11-47-5, 11-47-5.1, 11-47-8, and 11-47-24 set forth in subsection (c), and it shall be referred to as the “gun court calendar” of the superior court for the counties of Providence and Bristol.

(2) The “gun court calendar” of the superior court for the counties of Providence and Bristol shall also have concurrent jurisdiction with any other calendar of the superior court for the counties of Providence and Bristol to hear and decide all criminal actions involving offenses brought pursuant to violations of the provisions of §§ 11-47-3, 12-13-1.2, and 12-19-21, so long as the criminal action involves the possession, threatened use, or use of a firearm.